Kentucky Whig John White elected House Speaker, May 31, 1841

On this day in 1841, the House elected Rep. John White, a Kentucky Whig, as its 19th speaker. White presided over the House for one term in an era when control of Congress often alternated between Whigs and Democrats as the political scene rapidly shifted.

White’s predecessor as speaker, Rep. Robert Hunter (D-Va.), also served only one term, as did White’s successor, Rep. John Jones, another Virginia Democrat. Jones died in 1848. Hunter went on to become secretary of state of the Confederate states during the Civil War.

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As a protégé of his fellow Kentuckian, Henry Clay, White was first elected to Congress in 1834. He had served in the Kentucky state House, earning a reputation as an able lawyer. All in all, White served in the House for 10 years. He was 39 years old when he was elected speaker.

The 27th Congress, over which White presided, had 242 representatives and three delegates. It was comprised of142 Whigs, 98 Democrats, one independent and one independent Democrat.

In delivering his acceptance speech, White said: “I am sensible of the magnitude and difficulty of this task, of its arduous duties, of its high responsibilities. Six years’ service in this body has taught me that this chair is no bed of down, especially in a time of great political excitement.” He asked his House colleagues to “let all our proceedings be marked with forbearance, moderation, courtesy and patriotism.”

In the 28th Congress, with the Democrats back in charge, White lost the speakership to Jones, 128-59. He remained in the House one more term and then became a judge in Kentucky. He died on Sept. 22, 1845, at age 43, after having been on the bench only seven months.